It's time to get fired up for cross country! Our traditional XC countdown is back, although it will look a little different this time around - we just don't have as much quality data to approach it the way we have in the past. Instead, we will look at 25 boys and girls teams that we think will have an impact this fall in their section, in their division at the state meet, or even nationally. Unlike past countdowns, this year we're going to start with the clear contenders and then work toward some programs that might not be on your radar screen. As always, if you catch an error or have updated information for us, email editor Jeffrey Parenti (email at the bottom of every MileSplitCA page) and we'll make the corrections.
Oakland Technical first caught my attention by winning the Oakland Section in 2015, and they proceeded to absolutely dominate there for the next two seasons. After the 2019 championship was cancelled due to poor air quality, the Bulldogs defended their title in 2019 - but it was by a single point over rival Skyline. Did that signal a decline for the new power in Oakland?
Nope. Not only did Oakland Tech sport the top group of freshmen and sophomores in the CIF-OK by a wide margin back in 2019, they also sit atop the returning team 5K rankings from this past winter (although they lost the OAL final to Skyline because Tech didn't have 5 runners complete the race). That success continued into the spring, as the Bulldogs rank first in the Oakland Section returning team 1600 rankings.
Rising seniors Clair Garrett and Josie Goodson lead the way for the Bulldogs, to nobody's surprise (Garrett managed a PR in the 1600 in the abbreviated spring season, a solid accomplishment). They are joined by Caitlin Lee, while rising juniors Nina Fitzgerald Boes and Zoe Thogersen round out the returning top 5.
The Oakland Tech program isn't very big right now - they only had 7 returning runners post 1600 times this past spring - and depth is a major issue that could stand in the way of another title. No matter which report you look at from 2019 or 2021, there is a big gap after either the 4th or 5th runner. The squad for this upcoming fall is also senior-heavy, so cultivating more young talent will need to be a huge priority this year. The good news: nobody else in the Oakland Section entered the summer with any real depth, either. I expect the Bulldogs' superior talent up front to carry them to the throne once again.